VI: Lumbar Region: Typical Lumbars L1-L4

Question 1

What is the generic shape of the typical lumbar vertebral body from the cranial view?

Answer 1

reniform or kidney shaped

Question 2

What accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve?

Answer 2

the vertebral body and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height than posterior height

Question 3

What is the effect of aging on the vertebral body of a lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 3

decrease in height, increase in circumference

Question 4

What muscles may attach to a typical lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 4

psoas major and psoas minor

Question 5

Psoas minor will only attach to the vertebral body of which segments?

Answer 5

T12, L1

Question 6

What is the name given to ligaments that attach the vertebral body to articular process?

Answer 6

transforaminal ligaments

Question 7

What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?

Answer 7

corporotransverse ligaments

Question 8

Cervical - upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?

Answer 8

dura mater to segments above

Question 9

What is the proposed function of the cervical - upper thoracic hofmann ligaments?

Answer 9

resist caudal movement of the dural sac; resist gravitational forces on the dura and cord

Question 10

Lumbar Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?

Answer 10

dura mater to lower segmental levels

Question 11

What is the proposed function of the lumbar Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 11

resist cranial movement of the dural sac during flexion

Question 12

What is the proposed function of the proximal root sleeve ligament?

Answer 12

resist displacement of the peripheral nerve system in the intervertebral foramen

Question 13

What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region?

Answer 13

overlap of the laminae, shingling, diminishes; overlap of spinous processes, imbrication, diminishes

Question 14

What is the outline of the vertebral foramne of a typical lumbar vertebra?

Answer 14

triangular

Question 15

How does the size of the vertebral foramen differ along the spine?

Answer 15

cervicals have the greatest size, lumbars next, thoracics are smallest

Question 16

What part of the central nerve system is present in the lumbar spine?

Answer 16

the conus medullaris is typically present in the vertebral foramen of L1

Question 17

What is the name of the elevation near the origin of the lumbar transverse process?

Answer 17

accessory process

Question 18

A styloid process occurs with what frequency and as a result of what condition?

Answer 18

7% occurence as a result of congenital elongation of the lumbar accessory process

Question 19

What parts of a vertebra are attached via the mammillo-accessory ligament?

Answer 19

the mammillary process and accessory process of the same segment

Question 20

What was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament?

Answer 20

the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve

Question 21

What muscle(s) attach to the lumbar accessory process?

Answer 21

longissimus thoracis and intertransversarii

Question 22

What muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra?

Answer 22

psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus and intertransversarii

Question 23

What are the posterior elements of the vertebra?

Answer 23

zygapophysis, lamina and spinous process

Question 24

What are the anterior elements of the vertebra?

Answer 24

vertebral body and pedicle

Question 25

What is the orientation of the typical lumbar superior articular facet?

Answer 25

BUM; typically concave

Question 26

What is the orientation of the typical lumbar inferior articular facet?

Answer 26

FoLD; significant convexity

Question 27

What is the name given to the projections on the lumbar superior articular process?

Answer 27

mammillary process

Question 28

What muscles will attach to lumbar superior articular processes?

Answer 28

multifidis and intertransversarii

Question 29

What muscles will attach to the mammillary process?

Answer 29

multifidis and intertransversarii

Question 30

What ligament will attach to the lumbar superior articular process and transverse process?

Answer 30

mammillo-accessory ligament

Question 31

What is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in adults?

Answer 31

the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3 and L3/L4; the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1

Question 32

What name is given to zygapophyses between vertebral couples that lie in the same plane?

Answer 32

joint symmetry

Question 33

Define or describe joint tropism.

Answer 33

the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane

Question 34

What is the name(s) of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due to the aging process?

Answer 34

Baastrup’s syndrome or “kissing spines”

Question 35

What muscles will attach to the typical lumbar spinous process?

Answer 35

latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis and interspinalis

Question 36

What is the highest level known to demonstrate Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 36

C6